Golf practice range and method of retrieving balls hit thereon

ABSTRACT

A golf practice range construction including a gravity operated ball return system is disclosed and a method for recovering balls from the driving range for transfer to the aforementioned system.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,863,922 Peeples Feb. 4, 1975 [54] GOLF PRACTICE RANGE AND METHOD 1,869,642 8/1932 Woolman 273/176 K 0 RETRIEVING BALLS HIT THEREON 2,615,558 10/1952 Reed 198/221 2,834,388 5/1958 Meyer.. 198/221 [76] Inventor: Maurice E. Peeples, Boone St, Roya 3,184,239 5/1965 Heuser. 273/176 FA Heights, Ga. 31548 3,314,679 4/1967 Kolln 273/176 A 3,488,057 l/1970 Fussell, Jr. et a1. 1 273/176 F [221 Flled- 1973 3,599,980 8/1971 Harmond 273/176 A 21 APP[ 34 917 3,602,506 8/1971 Gentiluomo 273/176 K 3,706,452 12/1972 Souc1e 273/176 K Related US. Application Data Division of Set. NO. 0C1:- 21, Pat. No. Primary Examiner Evon Blunk Assistant Examiner-Richard Thomson Arr A t, F -D. P 1 W 52 US. Cl. 273/35 B, 273/176 K, 198/221 Omey gen or [51] Int. Cl A63b 69/36 [58] Field of Search 198/221, 222, 224; [57] ABSTRACT 273/176 176 176 55 1 2 A golf practice range construction including a gravity operated ball return system is disclosed and a method for recovering balls from the driving range for transfer [56] References cued to the aforementioned system.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,011,321 12/1911 Clark 198/224 3 Clam, 16 Drawmg Flgms PATENTED FEB 4W5 SHEET 1 BF 7 ATENTEU FEB 4 5 SHEET 2 OF 7 PATENTEU FEB 4 SHEET 3 OF 7 PATENTEU FEB SHEET 5 OF 7 PATENTEU 3.883,,922

SHEET 70F 7 FIG. /3 FIG. /4

GOLF PRACTICE RANGE AND METHOD OF RETRIEVING BALLS HIT THEREON PRIOR RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention A golf practice range comprising opposed pairs of downwardly converging side walls, a remotely disposed downwardly and inwardly inclined end wall, said side and end walls having golf ball target areas defined thereon, and drag means receiprocable relative to the range to retrieve golf balls driven thereon.

Description of the Prior Art.

Golf practice driving and putting ranges are old, per se, and are familiar to many golfers as ground areas proximate to their golf courses. Similar ranges are found, frequently, in other open areas generally located remotely with respect to urban developments. These latter are usually constructed to take advantage of natural ground contours, and one such example may be found in the patent to McKee, US. Pat. No. 3,310,310. Artificially constructed practice ranges with gravity operated ball return systems are also old in this art as is evidenced by the patent to Hall, US. Pat. No. 2,173,014, but these means comprise the primary ball return system rather than serving to supplement a positively operable golf ball retrieving means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to, primarily, the provision of a golf practice range which finds utility in urban as well as less densely populated areas. One of the unique features of the instant invention is to provide a housing structure, which may be double-decked, to accommodate many golfers simultaneously who wish to improve their mastery of the conventional woods and irons, and this invention contemplates the setting aside of special areas for providing putting practice, chip and approach shots, and sand-trapped recovery shots. The practice range is, thus, so designed as to afford the user an opportunity to practice with all golf club woods and irons of conventional construction.

The golf practice range also includes as a part of the housing structure, areas set aside for the dispensing of foods, beverages, lounging, a pro shop, showing installation and, in fact, any facility normally found in a conventional clubhouse.

In addition to the golf driving range and the facilities afforded to users thereof as mentioned above, one of the most important features of this invention resides in the provision of a golf ball retrieving drag of electromechanical construction for returning golf balls driven onto the range to a common compartment in the housing structure, the retrieving drag cooperating with a gravity feed means to effect this feature of the invention.

A further object of this invention is to provide a water drain system for the golf practice range.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a golf practice range which may be open to the public not only during fair weather conditions, but also under any prevailing inclement weather.

A further object of this invention is to provide a golf practice range of the type generally described above, and wherein the range may be constructed with minimal costs without the sacrifice of quality, and one which requires practically no maintenance.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following specification when read in the light of the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf course practice range, the facilities attendant thereon, and including a showing of a golf ball return drag also constructed in accordance with this invention in one of its operative positions relative to the range;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal medial transverse crosssectional view of the practice range and the ball return drag, FIG. 2 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 2-2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail transverse cross-sectional view of the range and its associated golf ball drag, FIG. 3 being taken substantially on the vertical plane ofline 33 of FIG. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail crosssectional view, FIG. 4 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 44 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the ball drag in its full line operative position, and in dotted lines its inoperative position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the golf ball practice range and the ball drag assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail crosssectional view illustrating a portion of the golf ball gravity feed system, FIG. 6 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 66 of FIG. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view of the gravity feed system, FIG. 7 being taken substantially on the vertical plane ofline 7-7 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail crosssectional view showing details of the housing structure, the operating mechanism for the golf ball return drag, and of the golf ball gravity feed and collecting system, FIG. 8 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 8-8 of FIG. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view, FIG. 9 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 9-9 of FIG. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail crosssectional view illustrating details of the golf ball return drag means, FIG. 10 being taken substantially on the line 10-10 of FIG. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 11 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the reversing circuit for the electrical motor of the golf ball drag;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view, FIG. 12 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 12-12 of FIG. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary detail crosssectional view,'FIG. 13 being substantially on the vertical plane of line 13-13 of FIG. 12, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of drain means for the golf course range;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary detail crosssectional view, FIG. 15 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 15-15 of FIG. 14, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view on a reduced scale, FIG. 16 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane ofline 16 16 of FIG. 15, looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 20 designates, in general, a golf practice range constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. For the purposes of convenience, simplicity, and clarity, the range 20 may be broken down into components of the whole wherein there is designated by reference numeral 22 a golf driving range, a golf ball return or retrieving drag means 24, a gravity feed golf ball return system 26, sodded ground areas 28, 30 for practice and instruction in the use of woods and irons, housing means 32 providing additional player practice and instruction areas, and conventional clubhouse facilities (all to be described below), greens areas 34, 36, sand traps 38, 40, and practice putting greens and areas 42, 44. The housing structure is preferably surrounded by a grassed area 46. A sidewalk 48 extends between the practice putting greens and areas 42, 44 and connects with a transverse walkway 50 bounding those ends of the putting greens 42, 44 which are remotely disposed with respect to the housing means 32. The areas 52, 53 surrounding and adjacent to the greens 34, 36 and the sand traps 38, 40 are also preferably sodded.

Reference numeral 22' has been utilized above to generally designate a driving range. This usage connotes that the user will be striving to obtain long golf ball shots through the employment of long woods and irons. Such usage is not, however, intended to preclude the understanding that the shorter woods and irons could not be used if desired on the range 22.

The driving range 22 is seen to comprise a plot of ground 54 (see FIG. 2) which is, preferably, about 400 yards long and 100 yards wide. These dimensions are not critical and may vary depending upon the amount of land available and its configuration. In the practice of this invention, however, it is suggested that the plot 54 be essentially rectangular, as is shown in FIG. 1. The ground plot 54 is here bounded by a pair of elongated laterally spaced and substantially parallel concrete foundation or ground retaining side walls 56, 58 (see FIG. 3) which, if preferred, may be precast. These sides walls are preferably received within longitudinally extending trenches 60, 62, respectively, and the planes of the upper ends 64, 66 of these walls are inclined upwardly from their front ends (those ends adjacent the housing means 32) towards their respective opposed ends on a grade of, preferably, one-half inch per linear foot. Again, this specific grading is not critical, but the same is offered as being exemplary of a preferred construction. The remotely disposed ends of the side walls,

56, 58 are connected by a concrete rear wall 68 (see FIG. 2) or this may, optionally, comprise only a ground backfill. Those ends of the side walls 56, 58 oppositely disposed with respect to the rear end wall 68 are connected by a transversely extending concrete front wall 70 (see FIGS. 1, 5 and 7) which is disposed within a trench 72. The front wall 70 comprises an upwardly opening substantially U-shaped member having a bight 74 from the longitudinally extending marginal edges of which upwardly extend laterally spaced and substantially parallel arms 76, 78. The upper ends of the arms 76, 78 terminate (see FIG. 7) in planar surfaces 80, 82, and the inner sides of the arms are formed with upwardly facing coplanar shoulders 84, 86, respectively, to all of which further reference will be made below. The arms 76, 78 support a conventionally constructed safety grill 83 which is recessed in the upper ends thereof, and the slats 83 of the grill 83 are laterally spaced from one another a sufficient distance to permit the easy passage of golf balls therethrough.

The ground 54 of the range 22 is graded from its front end to its rear end to form a V-shaped upper surface 88 (see FIG. 3) which is interrupted at its apex by a longitudinally extending trench 90 which receives an elongated concrete substantially rectangular base member 92 therein. The base member 92 may be precast, if desired, and the upper end thereof has a longitudinally extending V-shaped surface 94 forming extensions of the adjacent surface 88 at the apex thereof.

The upper surfaces 88 and 94 are graded to correspond with the rise of the side walls 56, 58, and these graded surfaces are then covered with a hard surface golf ball rebound strip 96 which may be made of any water impervious material such as, for example, asphalt or precast concrete for field assembly. The strip 96 is of substantially uniform thickness throughout its length, but it is deliberately thickened adjacent the rear end of the range to form a downwardly and forwardly extending triangular planar end portion 98 (see FIG. 2).

The sides of the V-shaped strip 96 form an acute angle of approximately 8 to 10 degrees relative to a horizontal plane, and the upper surface of the end portion 98 forms an acute angle of 12 to 15 degrees relative to a horizontal plane. These degrees of angularity are not critical and may vary at the option of the builder.

The inner section of the thickened end portion 98 with the adjacentends of the strip 96 results in the formation of a pair of trapezoidal oppositely disposed sides which connect to the triangular planar end portion 98. A pair of trapezoidal tufted pads or carpeting 100 formed of a conventional plastic material are superimposed over the trapezoidal sides of the strip 96. As is seen in FIG. 1, the pads 100 extend from the front to the back of the range 22 where these pads are joined to triangularly shaped tufted pad 102 which is superimposed over the triangular end portion 98. Suitable means (not shown) may be used to secure all of the pads in their respective positions.

The pads referred to above are of conventional manufacture and are available from many sources. In retain stores, these pads are known as being suitable for indoor and outdoor carpeting, and one such product is available from the National Carpet Company of Murrkirk, Maryland, which is sold under the trade name Town and Terrace Ozite. Of course, any other outdoor carpeting could be used providing that the same is tufted.

Fixedly connected to the upper ends 64,66 of the side walls 56, 58, respectively, are lengths of elongated first track members 104, 106 of identical construction and, hence, a description of one is a description of the other. Thus, each track member 104, 106 has, essentially, a C-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration, and includes a normally upright bight 107 from the upper and lower marginal longitudinally extending edges of which laterally project the upper and lower arms 108, 110, respectively. Each of the arms, adjacent their respective free ends, terminate in arcuate reversions turned inwardly towards one another to form elongated upper and lower rails 112, 114, respectively, there being a slot 116 between the outer terminal ends of each adjacent pair of upper and lower rails. The tracks are parallel to one another and open in confronting relationship relative to each other.

The lower arms 110 are superimposed on the upper ends 64, 66 of their associated foundation side walls 56, 58 and are secured thereon as by foundation bolts 117 which pass through the pairs of arms 108, 110, spacer sleeves 118 disposed therebetween, and which threadedly engage in anchor collars 120 embedded in the side walls 56, 58 at predetermined longitudinally spaced intervals. The bolts 117 also serve to secure the flanges 122 of a pair of angle irons 124 to, respectively, the upper sides of the arms 108, the angle irons comprising the bottom component of an elongated fence 125 which includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced upright standards 126 having their respective lower ends fixedly connected on the angle irons 124, and an open wire fencing 128 fixedly secured to and extending between each adjacent pair of standards. The height of the fence 124 is optional, but it should be sufficiently high to catch rebounding balls, slices and hooks. Further, the range 22 may be provided with a plurality of flood lights (not shown) which could be supported on he side walls 56, 58 and back wall 68 as well as on the housing structure 32. Since the use of such illuminating means is old and well known in this art, the same has been omitted from the drawings.

Fixedly connected to the lower rails 114 adjacent their respective opposed remotely disposed ends are pairs of electrical limit switches LS-l and LS-2 having conventional actuating members 134 and 136, respectively. These limit switches are conventional and are of the normally open single pole, single throw type with their respective actuating members being spring biased to switch open position. Connected to and extended longitudinally of each arm 108 is an elongated hollow wire receiving conduit 138 for carrying wires connecting the switches LS-l, LS-2 in an electrical motor control circuit to be described, infra.

Embedded in the base member 92 is an elongated longitudinally extending hollow tubular conduit 140 cylindrical in transverse cross-section and having a diameter appreciably greater than the diameter of any conventional golf ball 142. One end of the conduit 140 terminates in the thickened portion 98 and is connected to the lower end of the sole golf cup 143 provided in the range 22. The cup 143 is preferably marked by the usual flag 144, although this is an optional feature. The pitch of the conduit l40 is such that any ball received within the cup 142 will travel the conduit under the force of gravity for collection at the front end of the range 22 in a manner to be described below. Generally speaking, such gravity feed golf ball systems are old and well known in the art, the patent to Frank Fortino, U.S. Pat. No. 2,701,140, being an example thereof.

Also embedded in the base member 92 is a third elongated longitudinally extending track member 146 which is vertically spaced above the conduit and is on the same grade as the grade of the track members 104, 106. This member is identical to those heretofore described and is seen to comprise an elongated bight 148 from the longitudinally extending marginal edges of which vertically project laterally spaced and parallel arms 150, 152 having reverted free end portions forming arcuate rails 154, 156, respectively. The rails 154, 156 are spaced from one another to form an upwardly opening longitudinal slot 158. As is seen in FIG. 3, the upper V-shaped surface 94 of the base 92 is interrupted as its apex and terminates tangentially with the longitudinal 'apices of the rails 154, 156; and it will also be seen in this Figure that the strip 96 is formed with an elongated slot 160 which extends substantially to the apex of the thickened end portion 98 (as does the track 146) in vertically spaced alignment with the slot 158. The pads 100 take the V-shaped configuration of their underlying portions of the strip 96 and are separated along their adjacent longitudinal edges to form a third slot 162 adjacent the apex end thereof which is aligned throughout its length with the slots 158 and 160.

Reference numerals 164, 166 denote first and second carriages for the tracks 104, 106, respectively. These tracks and carriages form components of their golf ball drag means 24. The carriages 164, 166 are identical in construction, and each comprises an elongated substantially rectangular solid bar 168 having openings 170, 172 extending inwardly centrally, respectively, of its opposed ends. A pair of shafts 174, 176 having vertical axes are disposed, respectively, adjacent one end of each bar. The outer ends of each of the shafts carry a wheel 178 rotatably journalled thereon. A substantially U-shaped staple 180 is provided for each bar, the remotely disposed ends of its arms 182, 184 being connected to the bar to project laterally from a side thereof through the slot 116 and between the rails 112, 114. Each carriage 164, 166 is disposed within its associated track 104, 106 with the wheels 178 thereof engaging the inner side of the connected arcuate rails 112, 114, with the staples 180 of the carriage normally confronting one another.

A third carriage 186 is constructed in a manner similar to those heretofore described, this carriage comprising an elongated substantially solid rectangular bar 188 having shafts 190, 192 extending transversely therethrough adjacent, respectively, each of its ends. it should be here noted, however, that the carriage 186 differs from the previously described carriages in that the axes of the shafts 190, 192 are normally disposed in a horizontal plane. Each end of the shafts 190, 192 has a wheel 194 rotatably journalled thereon to engage and ride in the rails 154, 156, respectively.

Conventional bracket means (a clevis) 196 is fixedly connected to a side of the bar 188 to project laterally therefrom, and the free end of the foot portion 197 (see FIG. 4) of an L-shaped lever 198 is pivotally connected thereon by a pivot pin 200. The leg section 202, adjacent its free end, is formed with an opening 204 to threadedly receive a central portion of an elongated cable stringer 206 therein to serve a function to be described.

The carriage 186 is disposed in the track 146 with its wheels 194 engaging and tracking the arcuate rails 154, 156, as has been stated above. It will be understood that the distance between the apices of the rails 154, 156 and the bight 148 at the confronting sides thereof is greater than the diameter of the wheels 178 to provide against binding, and the same is true of the other wheeled carriages 164, 166 and their associated tracks 104, 106.

As is seen in the several Figures of the drawings, reference numerals 208 each denote one of a plurality of elongated cylindrical golf ball drags. In the preferred construction each drag is formed of a light weight material as, for example, an aluminum alloy or of a suitable plastic material. Each drag comprises an elongated cylindrical side wall 210 having a substantially solid end cap 212 at each of its respective ends. Each cap 212 has a convex outer end 214 to prevent its looking or binding against the adjacent one thereof when strung on the cable stringer 206 in the manner shown in the drawings, and more specifically, in FIG. 10, To permit the stringing, each end cap is formed with an axial passage 216 passing through its apex.

The drags 208 extend on opposite sides of the lever 198 and the remotely disposed ends of the cable stringer 206 are threaded through the staples 180, are reverted at 218 and the reverted ends 218 are clamped to the main cable as by conventional clamp means 220.

With the cable stringer 206 connected to the carriages 164, 166 and extending through the opening 204 formed in the leg section 202 of the lever 198, the lever will be found to have two operative positions. The first of these positions is shown in full lines in FIG. 4. In this position, all of the carriages are moving in the direction of the front wall 70, and the drags 208 ride on the tufted pads or carpets 100. There is sufficient slack in the stringer cable 206 so that as this movement take place, the drags 208 assume a V-shaped configuration, with the lever 198 substantially at the apex thereof. In this first operative position, the foot portion 197 of the lever 198 projects upwardly through the slots 150, 160 and 162, with the leg section 202 in overhanging upwardly spaced relationship relative to the bar 188, and with the free end of the bar 188 disposed below the tracks 104, 106. All of the drags 208 engage the pads 100 to engage and sweep the golf balls 142 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4. No stop means is required to limit the clockwise downward movement of the lever 198 when it is in its first full line operative position.

In the dotted line second operative position of the lever 198, the lever has been pivoted counterclockwise to cause the foot portion 197 to engage the adjacent side of the bar 188 limiting further movement thereof, and the leg section 202 pivots to an upright position to extend through the aforementioned slots with its free end now elevated to a higher position with the opening 204 coming to a halt substantially in alignment with the confronting slots 116 formed in the tracks 104, 106. The drags 208 are, thus, elevated above the pads 100 whereby the drag means 24 may be pulled in a reverse direction (in the direction of the dotted line arrow) whereby no engagement takes place between the drags 208 and the golf balls 142. As will be more clearly set forth below, the pivotal movement of the lever 198 takes place as a function of the movement of the cable in one direction or the other relative to the range 22.

To effect the sweeping of the range 22, and comprising a further component of the drag means 24, means is provided for substantially simultaneously moving both carriages 164, 166 in one direction or the other relative to their respective track and. consequently, causing the carriage 186 to move in the same direction. This means includes cable means 222, four pairs of pulleys 224, 226, 228 and 230, and reversible motor driving means 232. The pairs of pulleys include mounting plates 234 at each end of each track 104, 106 in which is mounted the pairs of upright shafts 224A and 224B, 226A and 226B, 228A and 228B, and 230A and 230B, respectively. These shafts rotatably support the pulleys 224C and 224D, 226C and 226D, 228C and 228D, and 230C and 230D, respectively. The cable means 222 is trained around these pulleys and is connected to the motor means 232, all in the manner to be described below. Actually, the cable means 222 comprises a pair of cables having their opposed ends fixedly connected within the openings 170, 172 formed in the opposed ends of the carriage bars 168, 168 of the carriages 164, 166, respectively. However, and before describing the driving means for the drag 24, other features of the golf practice range 20 should be described.

Thus, and as is seen in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, the front wall is centrally interrupted by'a downwardly extending hopper 235 having downwardly converging side walls 235', 235", the adjacent ends of the front wall 70 being in open communication therewith. The hopper 235 is also in open communication with the adjacent end -of the conduit to receive golf balls 142 which have been driven into the cup 143. To provide for this communication, the underside of base member 92 and the conduit 140 adjacent the front wall 70 are cut away.

Golf balls swept by the drag means 24 and which pass over the safety grill 83 drop on a grill 236 which is supported on the shoulders 84, 86. As is seen in FIG. 7, the grill 236 comprises a plurality of transverse rectangular strips 238 which are directly supported on the shoulders 84, 86 and a plurality of longitudinally extending straps 240. The divided front wall 70 diverges upwardly from the interrupting hopper means 235, whereby such golf balls 142 that drop on the straps 240 will automatically feed into the hopper 235 by the force of gravity.

The golf practice range, as has been stated above, also includes the housing means 32. This means is disposed adjacent the front wall 20 and comprises any suitable underground foundation 244 (see FIG. 8) and this includes at least one underground compartment or room 246. The room herein illustrated comprises a floor 247, opposed spaced and parallel side walls 248, 250, and opposed end walls 252 (only one being shown). The upper end of the compartment or room 246 is closed by a horizontal ceiling 254. The ceiling 254 also serves as floor means for other structure to be described below.

The room 246 serves to house an electrically operated reversible motor 232 (M) supported on a suitable base 258 which also supports a speed reducer 260 to which the motor M is drivingly connected. The speed reducer 260 is drivingly connected with a drum 262 which is, in turn, connected via portions of the cable means 222 with the triple pulleys 264, 266, 268 which are journalled for rotation on a common upright shaft 270 also mounted on the support base 258. Conventional cable tightening means 272 is also provided.

The ceiling 254 also comprises a floor support for upright longitudinally extending walls 274, 276 and transverse walls 278, 280 dividing the housing means 32 into a plurality of additional rooms or compartments 281, 282, 284. The upper ends of these compartments are closed by a second horizontal ceiling 286 which also serves as floor support means for structure to be described below. Stair flights 288, 290 afford communication between the compartments or rooms 246, 281,

and ingress and egress doors and/or windows 291 may be provided as desired and where necessary.

While but few rooms 246, 281, 282 and 284 have been described and illustrated herein, it will be understood that the number and arrangement of such rooms depends upon the desire of the builder, but it should also be borne in mind that the housing structure 32 should offer all of the facilities of the conventional golf clubhouse. Therefore, there should be provided rooms for club repair and accessory sales, restaurant facilities, lounges, office space for a professional golfer who will be available for instruction purposes, and all other conveniences normally provided by a clubhouse.

It will be noted (see FIG. 8) that the ceiling or floor 254 projects outwardly beyond the walls 274, 276 to provide areas 254A, 254B. The area 254B is immediately adjacent the front wall 70 and is utilized by practicing golfers who may be attended by the professional golfer who will have his office in the housing structure 32. To this end, conventional practice mats 290 and other facilities are provided. As is seen in FIG. 9, the mats are spaced longitudinally from one another, and the invention contemplates that this spacing and the spacing between the mats 290 and the wall 276 will be sufficiently great so as to permitthe personal supervision of the golf pro over the golfer, as well as to permit adjacent golfers to swing their clubs freely and safely, one with respect to the other.

The floor or ceiling 286 has longitudinally extending area portions 286A, 286B which overhang the corresponding areas 254A, 2548, the portions 286A, 2868 being separated from one another by fencing 292. Access is gained to the flooring 286 via the stairs 298 and floor opening 300 (see FIGS. 8 and 9), and this opening may be closed by any conventional closure means (not shown). Any suitable and conventional wire door means 293 (see FIG. 1) may be inserted in the fence 292, adjacent each end thereof or at any other desired location, to provide the users of the ceiling or floor 286 with access to either side thereof. The floor area 286B may be used for driving golf balls 142 onto the driving range 22, and the area 286A may be used for lounging purposes or by customers waiting their turn to use the facilities of the range 22.

Referring back to the room 246 (see FIG. 8) it is seen that the hopper structure 235 communicates therewith via the upright ball receiving conduit 302 and a lateral extension 304 which extends through the wall 250 and below the lower end ofthe base258. The golf balls 142, 142' will thus accumulate in the room 246 where they may be collected either manually or mechanically and deposited in pails or other suitable containers (not shown) to be carried to an appropriate. one of the rooms 281, 282, 284 for sale and reuse on the facilities of the range 20.

Attention is now directed to the motor means M, which is reversible, and its driving connection with the cable means 222. To understand the drive, the cable means 222 will be referred to with specific reference to FIGS. 5 and 8 of the drawings.

First, it should be observed that the axes of the shafts 224A, 224B, 230A, 230B, 228A, 2288, 226A, 226B are upright, with the pairs of shafts 224A, 224B and 228A,228B being located adjacent the front wall at each end thereof, respectively. The pairs of shafts 226A, 2268 and 230A, 2308 are also upright and are positioned adjacent the remotely disposed ends of the first track members 104, 106, respectively.

With reference to FIG. 5, one cable forming a part of the cable means 222 is here identified by the reference numeral 222A. The cable 222A has one of its ends fixedly connected within the opening 172 formed in one end of the bar 168 of the carriage 164. The other end of the cable 222A is trained around and between the pulleys 230D, 230C and returns in the direction of the pulley 228C about which it is also trained. This end of the cable 222A is then led across the idler puller 264 (the uppermost one of the three pulleys 264, 266, 268) and is extended to the upper endof the drum 262 as the length 222B. The length 222B is wound downwardly from the upper end of the drum 262 and exits therefrom as the cable length 222C which is then trained around the lowermost one of the idler pulleys 268 and is extended for training around the pulley 224B for connection in the opening 170 formed in the bar 168 of the carriage 166. A second cable 222D has one of its ends fixedly secured in the opening 170 formed in the bar 168 of carriage. 164, and the other end thereof is trained around the pulley 228D and is extended across the center idler pulley 266 for training around the pulley 224C and around the pulley 226C. This end of the cable is then extended across the pulley 226D and is connected within the opening 172 formed in the bar 168 of the carriage 166.

Thus, and assuming that the motor M is driving the drum 262 in a counterclockwise direction, the cable 222A will draw the carriage 164 in a direction away from the front wall 70, the cable 222A feeding between the pulleys 230D, 230C, the pulley 228C, around the top idler pulley 264 and threads down on the drum 262 exiting as the length 222C which passes to the pulley 224B, and to that end of the bar 168 of the carriage 166 adjacent the front wall 70. Now it must be recognized that if the carriage 166 did not move in the same direction as the carriage 164, the cable length 222C, as it leaves the drum 262, would constitute useless slack. However, with the carriage 164 moving towards the remote end of the driving range 22, the cable 222D is being drawn in the same direction and across the centrally located idler wheel 266, and since the other end of the cable 222D is connected to the remote end of the bar 168 of the carriage 166, the carriage 166 will also travel towards the remote end of the driving range 22, and in so traveling, the carriage 166 will take up the slack of the cable length or section 222C.

If the motor M is reversed to drive the drum 262 clockwise, then the cable 222C draws the carriage 166 towards the wall 70, the cable 222C passing around the pulley 224D and across the lowermost one of the idler pulleys 268 exiting therefrom to wind up the drum 262, leaving the drum 262 as the cable length 2228 which, as it leaves the top idler pulley 264 would provide slack in the cable 222A as it passes around the pulleys 228C, 230C and around the pulley 230D in the event the carriage 164 did not also move in the direction of the front wall 70. This cable slack is taken up when one considers the fact that as the carriage 166 moves towards the front wall 70, the direction of the travel of the cable 222D is reversed so that the carriage 164 is now moved in the direction of the front wall 70, and in so moving, the otherwise accumulated slack in the cable length 222A is picked up.

The motor means M is a reversible electric motor of conventional design, and the motor is adapted to be energized from a conventional three-phase A.C. power source. The source and the reversing control circuit for the motor M are shown in H0. 11.

The AC. source is indicated by reference numeral 400, and includes the main lines 402, 404, 406. These main lines connect via switch means 308 and the wires 310, 312, 314, respectively, which are fused as at 316. The wires 310, 314 connect with the primary coil 318 of a voltage step down transformer 320.

Reference numeral 322 generally designates a conventional electromagnetic motor relay switch of the double pole, double throw type. This switch includes a winding M-l provided with a reciprocable armature 326 to which the switch blades 328, 330 are connected. The armature 326 is spring biased to its outer position to cause the blades 328, 330 to normally engage with the fixed switch contacts 332, 334 in one operative position and, in a second operative position, and upon energization of the winding M-l, the switch blades 328, 330 are disengaged from the contacts 332, 334 and are engaged with the fixed switch contacts 336, 338. In this case the armature 326 has moved inwardly of its winding M-l against its spring bias. Note that the contacts 332, 338 are tied by wire 340, and that the wire 342 ties the contacts 334, 336.

At 346 is designated a latching relay which includes the latching relay solenoids LR-l and .LR-2, respectively. The latching relay 346 includes a pivotally mounted switch arm 352 which'serves as an armature for the solenoid LR-l and which is biased to switch open position away from a fixed switch contact 354. A latch lever 356 has one of its ends pivotally supported on the latching. relay 346, and its other free end is spring biased for pivotal movement away from its associated solenoid LR-2 and disposed in the path of movement of the free end of the switch arm 352. The arrangement is such that energization of the solenoid LR-l will cause the free end of the switch arm 352 to engage the free end of the lever 356 causing the latter to move clockwise as viewed in FIG. 11, and to lock under its shoulder 358 while simultaneously closing against the fixed switch contact 354.

Deenergization of the solenoid LR-l and subsequent energization of the solenoid LR-2 will cause the lever 356 to move counterclockwise releasing the free end of the switch arm 352 from under the shoulder 358 whereby the switch arm 352 breaks its engagement with its associated fixed switch contact 354.

The limit switches LS-l and LS2 are adapted to sequentially open and close when the staples 180 of the carriages 164, 166 engage against and are-moved from the switch actuators 134. The limit switches are connected in reversing circuits for the motor M. When the main switch 400 is closed, the solenoids LR-l and LR-2 are connected in series across the secondary winding 360 of the transformer 320.

Tracing the first of these circuits which includes the solenoid LS-l, a wire 362 connects one side ofthe secondary winding 360 of the transformer 320, with the fixed switch contact 364 of the solenoid LSl. With the switch arm 366 of the limit switch LS-l closed against the fixed switch contact 364, the circuit is continued by a wire 368 which connects the switch arm 366 with one side of the solenoid LRl, and the other side of this solenoid is connected by wire 370 to the other side of the secondary winding 360.

The second series circuit includes the limit switch LS2 and includes the wire 362 which connects to the fixed switch contact 372 via the wire 374. In its closed position, the switch arm 376 of the limit switch LS-2 connects by wire 378 to one side ofthe solenoid LR-2, and the other side of the solenoid LR-2 connects back to the other side of the primary winding 360 of the transformer 320 via the wires 380, 370. Both of the above described series circuits are commonly fused as at 382.

With the main switch 308 closed, and upon the closing of anyone of the limit switches LS-l or LS2, the motor M is energized. The motor circuits are traced in detail below, and for the purpose of explanation it will be assumed that the component elements of the electrical circuit are in their positions illustrated in FIG. 11 and further, that the carriages 164, 166 are moving in the direction of the limit switch LS-l after having first closed the limit switch LS2. Under this set of conditions, the following operational sequences take place throughout a given cycle of operation of the drag means 24.

As the carriages 164, 166 approach the front wall 70, the staples will engage against the actuators 134 to close the switch arm 366 against its fixed switch contact 364, these being components of the limit switch LS-l. The circuit to the solenoid LR-l is thus established, causing the switch arm 352 to pivot downwardly into engagement with the fixed switch contact 354, and in so moving it engages against the upper end of the latch lever 356 causing it to pivot clockwise. As the free end of the switch arm 352 passes below the shoulder 358, the latch lever 356 pivots counterclockwise to lock the free end of the switch arm 352 under the shoulder 358. With the closing of the switch arm 352 against its fixed switch contact 354, a circuit is completed to the winding M-l which includes the wire 310 that connects to one end of the wire 384, the other end of the wire 384 connecting with one side of the winding M-1, and the other side of the winding M-l connecting through wire 386 with the switch arm 352. Since the switch arm 352 is engaging the fixed switch contact 354, the circuit is completed through the wire 388 which connects the fixed switch contact 354 with the wire 314.

The energization of the winding M-l causes its armature 326 to move inwardly against its bias to effect the operation of the motor relay switch 322. This will reverse the rotation of the motor M.

The motor M, in driving the carriages 164, 166 in the direction of the limit switch LS-l was energized by circuitry which includes the wire 312 which connects line 404 with the motor winding at point A, the wire 310 which connects the line 402 with the motor winding point B via the wires 384, 389, the switch blade 330,

the fixed switch contact 334, the wire 342 which is connected therewith and to which is connected one end of the wire 390, the latter having its other end connected to the motor winding at point B. The line 406 connects to the motor winding point C via the wires 314, 388, 392, switch arm 328, the fixed switch contact 332, the wires 340 and 394.

When, however, the limit switch LS-l has closed, as described above, and the winding M-l of the motor relay 322 has been energized, this first circuit to the motor is broken and the motor is reversed through the following circuits. The reversal is accomplished by connecting the line 402 with point C and the line 406 with the point B ofthe motor winding. The line 404 remains connected through wire 312 with point A.

The first of the reversal connections includes the line 402, the wires 310, 384, 389, switch blade 330, fixed switch contact 338, and wires 340 and 394. The line 406 connects to the motor winding point B via the wires 314, 388, 392, switch arm 328, fixed switch contact 336, and wires 342 and 390.

As the motor M reverses, the carriages 164, 166 now are drawn towards the back wall 68, and in so moving, the staples 186 are disengaged from the switch actuators 134 for the limit switches LS-l, thereby permitting the switch arm 366 of the switch LS-l to open away from its fixed switch contact 364. While this permits the solenoid LR-l to become deenergized, the circuit to the motor M remains energized since the switch arm 352 is still held against its fixed switch contact 354 by the shoulder 358 of the lever 356.

When the carriages reach the opposite end of the range 22, the staples 180 thereof engage the switch actuators 136 of the limit switches LS-2 with the following results. With the operation of the actuators 136, the switch arms 376 of the limit switches LS-2 close against the fixed switch contact 372. This establishes the energization of the latching relay solenoid LR-2, and upon this energization the latch lever 356 is moved counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 11, to disengage the free end of the switch arm 352 from the shoulder 358. The motor relay winding M-l is now deenergized, and the armature 326 moves outwardly therefrom under the switch bias causing the switch blades 328, 330 to move to their full line positions shown in FIG. 11. The original circuit is now reestablished, and the motor M again reverses.

It should be here noted that should the staples 180 overrun the switch actuators 154, or 136 before the direction of movement of the carriages 164, 166 may be reversed, no changes occur in the electrical circuits for they will remain in their same energized or deenergized condition if each of the limit switches LS] and LS-2 are repeatedly actuated. The only change in the condition of the circuits occurs when the limit switches are sequentially opened and closed.

Thus, the cyclic operation of the drag means 24 will continue as long as the main switch 308 is closed. The main switch may be opened while the drag is in any position on the pads 100, and upon reclosing the switch, the drag means 24 will continue to move in the same direction as it was moving when the switch 308 was opened. Thus, the drag means 24 may be continuously operated without attendance by personnel, and assures that driven golf balls 142 will be constantly swept from the pads 100 for collection and reuse. The operation of the drag 24 has still another advantage in that no person need walk upon the pads 100 when collecting the balls 142 and its operation also eliminates the use ofthe conventional golf ball pickup motor vehicle which must be shielded to protect the operator thereof. In eliminating the vehicle, operating costs are reduced and payment of wages to its operator is eliminated.

As has been mentioned above, the conduits 138 are adapted to receive therethrough the wires 362, 368 and 378 which connect the limit switches LS1 and LS-2 with the latching relay solenoids LR-l and LR-2, respectively. The wires may be gathered together as the cables 394. The latching relay 346 and the motor relay 322, as well as the main switch 308, may be conveniently located but, preferably, are disposed in the housing structure 32.

While the construction of the drag means 24 and its movement on the pads 100 with the carriages 164, 166 has been described, the manner by which it is caused to be elevated above the pads 100 when moving to the back wall 68 has been deferred to this point since the basic structure had first to be detailed.

It will be obvious to those skilled in this art that a range drag constructed to reciprocate thereover and without means for elevating the same when moving in the direction of the remote end thereof would be somewhat impractical. Such a drag device would merely shove the balls in the direction of its movement. Of course, such drag means could be initially positioned at the remote end of the range and range use halted as the device swept to the near end of the range and subsequently returned to its remote position. But this would reduce the range use time and, consequently, the profits from the operation of the range. Other disadvantages would attend the operation of such a ball retrieving apparatus.

To obviate all such disadvantages, the drag means 24 of this invention is flexible and includes means for raising the same as the drag means towards the remote end of the range. The mechanical components of the drag 24 have been described above. In this connection it has been mentioned that the cable 206 is somewhat slack between its connection with the carriages 164, 166 and the pivoted lever 198. Thus, as the carriages 164, 166 are moving in the direction of the front wall 70(see FIGS. 4 and 5) the drag 24 assumes a V-shaped configuration with the apex thereof extending towards the re mote end of the range 22. The slack in the cable 206 allows the drags 208 to frictionally engage the pads throughout their transverse widths and permits the drags to move over objects in their path, other than golf balls and like spherical objects, which by virtue of their physical configuration could cause damage to the pads or to the drags. As the drag means 24 sweeps towards the front wall 70, the balls 142 collect in front of the drags 208. As the carriages 164, 166 pass the front wall 70, the drag means 24 will pass over the grill 83 and the hopper 235. Those balls which pass through the grill 83 will drop on the straps 240 for conveyance by gravity to the hopper 235, and those balls adjacent the drags 208 proximate to the lever 198 are pushed by the drags 208 directly into the hopper 235.

When the carriages 164, 166 reach the end of the track 104, 106 adjacent the front wall 70, the limit switches LS-l are actuated to reverse the direction of the travel of the carriages in the manner described above. As the carriages 164, 166 now move towards the opposed ends of the track 104, 106, the movement ofthe carriage 186 is temporarily brought to a standstill until the carriages 164, 166 move slightly ahead to reverse the V-shaped configuration of the drags 208. This position is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. As the slack is taken. up in the cable 206, it applies a turning force on the lever 198 causing the same to pivot in a counterclockwise direction to assume the dotted line position thereof shown in FIG. 4 and which has also been described above. As the lever 198 pivots to its dotted line position, the cable 206 is elevated to its dotted line position and, consequently, the drags 208 will no longer sweep the pads. When the carriages 164, 166 arrive at the above-mentioned other end of the track members 104, 106, the staples 180 engage the switch actuators 136 of the limit switches LS-2 and the motor control circuits and their electrical components return to their respective positions and conditions illustrated in FIG. 11 and described above. The carriages 164, 166 reverse their direction of travel to repeat the described cycle.

As this reverse movement takes place, there is again a halt in the movement of the carriage 186 and a small slackening in the cable stringer 206 which is again taken up as the carriages 164, 166 pass the carriage 186 in the direction of the front wall 70. As this slack is picked up, the cable stringer 206 exerts a reverse force on the free end of the leg section 202 of the lever 198 causing the lever 198 to turn clockwise, reference being had to FIG. 4 of the drawings, to move the lever from its dotted line position to its original full line position. In so moving, the cable stringer 206 is lowered so that the drags 208 reengage the pads 100.

The above described cycle of operation repeats as longas the carriages 164, 166 repeat their reciprocable movement.

The angle of inclination of the pad 102 is sufficiently great relative to a horizontal plane so as to cause all balls impacting thereagainst to move downwardly thereon in the direction of the pads 100 under the force of gravity. If desired, the tracks 104, 106 may extend to the rear wall 68 while the track 146 terminates adjacent the apex of the pad 102. Under this condition, and providing sufficient slack in the cable stringer 206, even the remotely disposed ends of the pads 100 may be swept or dragged.

The entire facilities of the practice range are given over to the provision of means enabling a person to practice his golf strokes using practically every conventional golf club. The range 22 provides golfers with means for practicing woods and long irons and to achieve accuracy in the placing of driven balls, and to achieve the latter, the pad 102 is provided with a colored area 500 which surrounds the cup 143. Other areas indicated by reference numeral 502 could be colored to indicate simulated sand traps, and colored areas 504 serve as simulated shorter greens as does the colored area 506. In addition to serving as target areas, the colored areas are spaced given distances from the front wall 70 to afford the golfer with means for accurately determining how far his clubs will carry a ball and thereby provide him with means for judiciously selecting a particular club in order to carry a ball a desired distance in accordance with his capabilities.

As has been stated above, a person utilizing the facilities of the range 20 may drive from the floor areas 2548 or 286B. If he wishes a more natural environment he may use the areas 28, which would be sodded.

For shorter chip or pitch shots, the areas 42, 44 would be used with the greens 34, 36 as the targets. The areas 42, 44 would preferably be sodded and kept trimmed to simulate fairway or rough conditions. The greens 34, 36 could be provided with the usual cup and flag 408, 410, respectively, and the cups 408 could be constructed in accordance with the random golf ball ejector cups described and illustrated in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,310,311 and 3,310312 or in accordance with my copending application. Ser. No. 885,216, filed Dec. l5, 1969, and entitled GOLF PUTTING CUP WITH RANDOM-DIRECTION BALL EJECTION MEANS. The sand traps 38, 40 offer still another type ofpractice shot for the greens 34, 36.

The layout of the range 20 is such that all of the basic swinging and putting strokes may be practiced.

As has been stated above, the housing structure means 32 includes offices for one or more professional golfers who will be in attendance at all times to give instruction to golfers seeking to improve their game. But in addition to this personal instruction, and because of the particular layout of the range 20, it is proposed that the professional golfer will be certified to issue certain certificates to persons under his supervision attesting that a certain degree of proficiency has been obtained by the golfer in accordance with certain preadopted standards (of no consequence to this invention), and to therby enable the golfer to enter certain games or tournaments from which he might otherwise be barred for lack of practice on a conventional golf course.

This invention further contemplates the provisions of drainage means for the golf driving range 22. To this end it will be understood that any water or snow which may enter the golf cup 143 and melt therein will drain off through the tubular conduit 140, under the force of gravity, and will pass through the conduit into the ball receiving conduit 302. Such water will then travel the lateral extension 304 and will collect on the floor 247 of the room or compartment 246. From this compartment the water will pass through the drainage pipe 396 and its extension 398 to any conventional external drain system. Again, the base member 92, at that end thereof proximate the'side wall 250, isformed with one or more openings-408 which extend transversely therethrough and through the bight 148 to discharge water from the third track member 146 in the same manner. Some water may collect on the floor of the compartment 246, but it too will be carried off through the conduits 390, 392.

Any water which may collect in the third track member 146, or in the tubular conduit 140 will be minimal. By far, the greatest concern involves the drainage of the driving range 22. To eliminate the collection of water on the driving range 22, it is contemplated that water collectors be installed such as, for example, those shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16. Each of the containers or receptacles bears the general reference numeral 410, and each of the receptacles 410 is seen to have a generally hollow rectangular configuration.

Each of the receptacles 410 is seen to comprise a pair of oppositely disposed spaced, parallel and normally upright side walls 412, 414 and a pair of spaced, parallel and upright end walls 416, 418. The lower ends of the walls 412, 414, 416, 418 are fixedly connected or formed integral with the peripheral marginal edge of a concave bottom wall 420. The bottom wall 420 at its apex, is in open communication with one end 422 of a pipe 424 having a lateral extension 426 which runs underground through the plot of ground 54 to a header 428 connected with the inlet side of a conventional pump P. The pump discharge pipe 430 may be connected to any conventional drainage system or may lead to an artificially created pond (not shown) which could be incorporated in the golf driving range 20 as a water hazard, if so desired. The communicating end 422 of the pipe 424 is preferably provided with a conventional drain plate 432.

Reference numeral 436 generally designates an upwardly opening substantially U-shaped trough having an elongated substantially rectangular bight 438 from the peripheral marginal edges of which upwardly project longitudinally extending substantially rectangular side walls 440, 442. Each trough 436 is supported on, extends between and opens through the opposed pair of side walls 412, 414.

The receptacles 410 are adapted to be embedded in the ground plot 54 with the trough 436 receiving portions of the base member 92 therein at longitudinally spaced intervals relative thereto.

To prevent debris from falling into the receptacles 410, the end walls 416, 418, adjacent their respective upper ends, are provided with lugs or ribs 444, respectively, which project inwardly of the receptacles 410. Similar lugs or ribs 446 project laterally from the side walls 440, 442 into the receptacles 410. The adjacent pairs of elements 444, 446 each support an elongated substantially rectangular grid 448 having longitudinally extending slats 450 and crossbars 452. The spacing between the slats and crossbars is less than the diameter of a conventional golf ball to prevent the entry thereof into receptacles 410.

Having described and illustrated the embodiments of this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same are offered merely by way of example, and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of retrieving golf balls from random l0- cations on a golf practice range having a shallow V cross-section surface, the range having a ball collection station near one end thereof, the method comprising propelling a flexible drag assembly over the surface of the range longitudinally in one direction and toward the ball collection station and with the flexible drag assembly spanning substantially the full width of the range during its movement, restraining and guiding the opposite ends and the center of the flexible drag assembly during its movement over the range so that the assembly will be held in contact for its full length with the shallow V cross-section surface, thereby assuring engagement of the golf balls by the flexible drag assembly and the sweeping of the golf balls toward the collection station, and then delivering the golf balls by gravity near said one end of the range to the ball collection statron.

2. The method as defined by claim 1, and providing sufficient slack in the flexible drag assembly to cause the restrained and guided center part thereof to lag behind the ends of the assembly during the movement thereof longitudinally over said range.

3. The method as defined by claim 2, wherein said flexible drag assembly embodies a cable and a series of roller elements strung thereon independently.

004000 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,863,022 Dated February n 975 Inventor) Maurice E. Peeples It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

The patent is in error in that the address of the patentee is given as Royal Heights, Georgia. The correct address of the patentee is Kingsland, Georgia.

Signed and sealed'this 10th day of June 1975,.

(SEAL) Attest C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks 

1. A method of retrieving golf balls from random locations on a golf practice range having a shallow V cross-section surface, the range having a ball collection station near one end thereof, the method comprising propelling a flexible drag assembly over the surface of the range longitudinally in one direction and toward the ball collection station and with the flexible drag assembly spanning substantially the full width of the range during its movement, restraining and guiding the opposite ends and the center of the flexible drag assembly during its movement over the range so that the assembly will be held in contact for its full length with the shallow V cross-section surface, thereby assuring engagement of the golf balls by the flexible drag assembly and the sweeping of the golf balls toward the collection station, and then delivering the golf balls by gravity near said one end of the range to the ball collection station.
 2. The method as defined by claim 1, and providing sufficient slack in the flexible drag assembly to cause the restrained and guided center part thereof to lag behind the ends of the assembly during the movement thereof longitudinally over said range.
 3. The method as defined by claim 2, wherein said flexiBle drag assembly embodies a cable and a series of roller elements strung thereon independently. 